A Brief Introduction to Electrically Conductive Polymers and Their Application in Anti-Corrosive Coating of Metal Surfaces
The lecture would like to present a short survey of different types of intrinsically conducting polymers (e.g. polyaniline, polypyrrole and polythiophene derivatives, respectively) and their utilization in anti-corrosive coating of metals.
Starting from the description of polymer structures the chemical and electrochemical doping for inducing the charge transport will be analyzed. Methods of chemical and electrochemical polymerization are to be discussed. The electrochemical analysis of the polymer properties by cyclic voltammetry will elucidate the correlation between chemical structure of the monomer and its oxidation potential.
Examples of the use of various polythiophenes in the fabrication of electrochromic devices for smart window application are to be shown. A further aspect will include the exploration of poly(3,4-propylenedioxythiophene)s as electrode materials for supercapacitors.
For discussion of the metal protection basic mechanisms of corrosion like anodic and cathodic reaction will be presented.
The efficiency of conducting polymers will be illustrated by some examples of anti-corrosive coating of various types of steels and aluminium alloys with polyaniline and polypyrrole.
Mechanisms of corrosion protection to be shown will include defect protection by conductive polymer, protection of pin holes by ICP induced passivation as well as intelligent self-healing coating.